The Whole Foods boycott conundrum
Whole Foods helped to galvanize a nation of progressive shoppers, and now they're mad as heck.
Sun, Aug 16 2009 at 3:41 PM EST
66
Image: Whole Foods Boycott John's Mackey's out of "right field" op ed piece last week in the Wall Street Journal, which condemned Obama's health care plan, probably surprised Republicans more than the millions of characteristically uber-liberal Whole Foods shoppers.
Why, after carefully building the integrity of the Whole Foods brand as THE exemplary brand in the socially and environmentally conscious world of green business, would you throw it all out for a totally off-brand personal (one might say vain) statement by the man who is supposed to represent everything that the company stands for?
It just doesn't make good business sense.
By some estimation (check out Keith Olbermann) the Whole Foods demographic doesn’t just skew left; it is left -- by a factor of about 10:1 (or more).
Even though the environmental movement and the social justice movement are indeed two individual movements with different points of view, in the mind of the “conscious” consumer (the marketing term for people who shop at Whole Foods) the two movements have not only converged, they are one in the same.
As I just blogged about in my piece “Is Hate Green?” (detailing the challenge facing companies like GE and Wal-Mart who have green missions but still fund radical hate speech) corporations need to take this trend very seriously.
The Internet has allowed consumers to get more and more informed about the rift between what companies SAY and what companies DO. A good marketing campaign can no longer cover up issues like child labor abuses or toxic chemical additives.
Now, a whole host of blogs, web directories, forums, and apps (like The Good Guide) offer the consumer an at-a-glance inventory of a company’s laundry – both dirty and clean.
And as more and more companies adopt CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) plans, progressive consumers are coming to expect, even demand transparency and integrity of the companies they patronize, especially at the upper levels of management.
Now back to Whole Foods, Health Care and the preposterous conspiracy theory, now perpetuated by Mackey, that Obama’s plan is going to somehow turn the U.S (with all its minions of pampered Whole Foods shoppers) into a Lenin-era Soviet republic. Whether you’re Republican, Libertarian, or Democrat, you still have to agree that many social service industries should continue to be socialized (i.e. funded by the public) – public education, law enforcement, fire departments, highways, Medicare, etc, etc. Public education will not do away with private schools any more than a public health care option will kill private health care.
So why all the hullabaloo? The U.S is the richest country in the world, yet it consistently shows up at the bottom of every list on health care, lagging far behind even relatively poor industrialized nations (like Slovenia).
Clearly our fully privatized medical system is not working. Doctors aren't happy. Patients aren't happy. The uninsured certainly aren't happy, and the cataclysmic doctor bills that many families now face are contributing to a weak economy. So why not let our elected officials do their job and come up with an alternative? That’s what we pay them for.
If you ask me why there is so much controversy it boils down one thing and one thing only – the end of corporate rule in America.
Many corporations – in the financial services (remember the trillion $ bailout?), in the manufacturing sector (remember all those outsourced jobs?), and now in health care -- are furious that they can no longer continue to monopolize their industries at the expense of the American people. And they are spending a lot of money (some estimates say $54 million was spent last week alone in health care PR) to lobby our politicians and confuse the public so that they can continue on in unregulated glory.
But I have news for them. It’s not going to work.
Environmentally and socially conscious consumers have woken up to their power. Ironically, Whole Foods was a big part of that awakening. Consumers came in droves to Whole Foods, paying higher prices for organic and sustainable products, proving a business model that defied conventional business logic.
10 years later, even Safeway has an Organics section. So now that 'conscious consumers' have had the taste of power, I don't think they will be giving it up anytime in the near future.
If you doubt me, just look at Whole Food’s sales numbers.
If you want to learn more about the Whole Foods boycott which is now in full swing (I just popped my head into one and the place was a dead zone!) check out the Facebook group (which just started a couple days ago and already has 10,000 members). There are also several websites like Common Dreams and the Progressive Review now calling for a formal boycott.
The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those
providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of
MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies
with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy
of any of their information.
 WorldShares
lets you earn donations for your favorite nonprofit. Earn up to 20
points now.Learn More Earn Points
|
Twitter
Stumble
Digg
Share
CLOSE
link:
link:
| Previous Post Voyage through the universe with APOD | Next Post Into the eye of a hurricane |
Comments
girlteam
09/12/2009 02:24 AM
Na początku każdy epizod, the carol burnett show dvd odpowiadać pytanie od the widownia, przyzwyczajenie ten żyć dalej w Carol Burnett krajoznawczy wydarzenie.
YeahREALLY
09/03/2009 16:00 PM
Whole Foods treats their employees very poorly. They try and use intimidation tactics to get rid of workers who hurt themselves on their property.(I worked there!) They deny rasies to some, play absolute favoritism. Doesn't matter how hard you work for them, you will be judged. Dont ever hurt yourself they will force you out.
Marky the Eco-Libertarian
08/27/2009 19:09 PM
Few, if any, commenters (sic) in favor of a boycott (on this site and others) have taken up Mackey on the substance of his simple and commonsensical arguments. You call opponents of ObamaCare "republitards" yet fail miserably in engaging the issues he brings up. It is petty, whiny name-calling. You love to call yourselves "open-minded" but if one mentions any alternative to Single-Payer, he/she is suddenly labeled "a right-wing whacko" or corporate opportunist. Stop your schoolyard antics.... More
Anonymous
08/25/2009 19:50 PM
My local Whole Foods, Evanston, Illinois(north), has been doing the Republican thing from day one. They put a very good (local) health food store out of business (as well as another in Chicago). They demolished a perfectly good building and moved into a complex built by John Buck and Co., the notorious plunderer of Michigan Ave. in Chicago. They sell alcohol and magazines pandering to the materialism of the yuppy neighborhood. Whole Foods may have begun with good intentions. Their.... More
WFBCA
08/20/2009 14:00 PM
John Mackey’s WSJ article is a brilliant marketing ploy by Whole Foods.
Look at the big picture. Boycotts of retail stores rarely have a lasting effect. Whole Foods may temporarily lose a few hundred thousand mildly politically active liberal customers, but most will soon return. A few thousand hard core liberal customer may never shop there again. Those customer losses pale in terms of the potential customer gains.
Right wing neo-cons, those that worship Sarah Palin and listen.... More
Anonymous
08/23/2009 14:50 PM
Repubtards are not smart. They are not smart shoppers ,they are not into organic food, premium meat or fish. They would prefer a McDonalds burger to a filet mignon. They are troglodytes. Knuckle dragging, mouth breathing, drooling Retards. They spend their money on Humvees. They have no use for healthy food. Besides Whole Foods hire black and Hispanic people so that makes the Republican cretins even more nervous. There are plenty of things that annoy progressives but Rebublicans will not pay.... More
K. M.
08/20/2009 13:32 PM
Every person is entitled to an opinion. People boycotting WFs need a reality check. As a business owner, I agree it was probably not a great idea to go against his clientele publically, but why is someone like Michael Moore and Al Gore allowed to pillage the sane and everyone takes it as gospel and a business owner is not allowed to voice his own opinion? No one is saying he is the end all. It's just an editorial!!!
STOP CRYING over something so stupid. If you don't believe in what.... More
Anonymous
08/21/2009 09:57 AM
thank you!!!!!
K.M.
08/20/2009 13:37 PM
A person can still be an avid environmentalist, organic food loving hippie and a conservative at the same time. Everyone please see what all these new taxes are going to do to the small business and yummy organic produce we all know and love.....if it all happens as proposed, the only places still left will be big box stores. Sometimes conceding on less important fronts leads to a greater end result.
Stephanie
08/20/2009 10:17 AM
This boycott will hurt employees more than it will hurt Mackey. When companies start to lose money, they cut those already at the bottom; the ones who need their jobs the most. And, in a few months when this all blows over, the only ones who will have suffered are the ones who have lost their jobs. Please be responsible about this and realize that while John Mackey may not have the same opinion as you, he still helped bring organic food to the mainstream, and more people are eco-conscious.... More
Anonymous
08/19/2009 16:28 PM
i found this timely and funny article on whole foods product names...its worth a read: http://onthebutton.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/wholefoods/ enjoy!
Nathan
08/18/2009 17:44 PM
I don't agree with everything here, but one thing I fully agree with...
CORPORATE AMERICA is out of control, and has far too much control... One corp lobbies to allow poison in our food, while another corp fights to keep us from health insurance.
And where is the media (the "watchdogs"), to investigate and protect? Oh... well ask Fox News. The attorneys for Fox, owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch, successfully argued the First Amendment gives broadcasters the right to lie or.... More
Anonymous
08/18/2009 00:54 AM
I don't agree with Mr. Mackey's views, and I rarely ever shop at Whole Foods as it is since it pretty much is nothing more than a racket, but I do think he makes a good point about the state of American health. We really don't do enough to encourage and reward good behavior on the part of the healthy, rather they have the burden of health care costs from the bad behavior of the unhealthy. If Americans ate a diet like the Europeans or the Japanese, and exercised more, then we wouldn't have.... More
serickson
08/17/2009 16:19 PM
Those people waiting in line to see a doctor at the stadiums all over the country... Not just CA. Here is a random article I just Googled http://www.fresnobee.com/384/story/1592639.html
I think we have a problem here we need to address. If it isn't the right route then we will find out and change as we go, but obviously something needs to be done. Not
Anonymous
08/17/2009 11:45 AM
Mackey is exactly right; health is in your own hands. Our entire healthcare crisis can be mitigated by simply eating properly and exercising. Mackey gives his employees the best health insurance in the world, accepts $1 in salary (vs. the billions that the wall street execs make at AIG, Citi, etc.), and isn't afraid to speak his mind (which didn't hurt anyone and is just common sense). We wouldn't have a financial crisis or a sick-care crisis if other CEOs were like Mackey. I'm a vegan,.... More
Disgusted
08/18/2009 19:03 PM
Even vegans need healthcare, which Mackey is determined to take away from millions of Americans. I refuse to shop at Whole Paycheck until Mackey is gone and until they support single payer.
Anonymous
08/17/2009 13:55 PM
It is unfortunate that the fortunate seem to think that because they can everyone can do it- this is not always the case. The lack of concern for our fellow Americans is not only unpatriotic it is unacceptable. I applaud Mackey on many levels, but this is a sad, uncaring statement. Just because there would be help for the 20% of Americans that do not have health care now does not mean ANYTHING for the rest of us, other than a litlte more for those of us who are lucky enough to make 250k a.... More
Claire
08/17/2009 10:53 AM
should say, "especially when his views are not anti-reform, but pro-reform. There is more than one brand of Change.
Claire
08/17/2009 10:50 AM
did it occur to any one that Mackey is not against healthcare reform. He is against one plan. He is offering alternatives - and spelling them out. He is not stalling and trying to keep healthcare at its shameful status quo. It is interesting that he can build a store that encourages people to not only care about sustainability, fair trade, the health enacted from removing pesticides (actually preventative healthcare is built into organic foods), but can also get people to consciously care.... More
logicprobe
08/18/2009 00:30 AM
"did it occur to any one that Mackey is not against healthcare reform. He is against one plan."
Indeed. Mackey's proposal is a more radical change than the current plans being pushed by the White House.
I'd go one step further than Mackey. I'd remove the tax deduction for companies that provide health care benefits, and I'd make it 100% deductible for individuals, exactly reversing the current setup.
I really like this part of Mackey's proposal: "revise tax forms to make.... More
Claire
08/17/2009 10:49 AM
did it occur to any one that Mackey is not against healthcare reform. He is against one plan. He is offering alternatives - and spelling them out. He is not stalling and trying to keep healthcare at its shameful status quo. It is interesting that he can build a store that encourages people to not only care about sustainability, fair trade, the health enacted from removing pesticides (actually preventative healthcare is built into organic foods), but can also get people to consciously care.... More
Maruf Khan
08/17/2009 10:46 AM
Its a shame that in an affluent country like the US, a homeless person going into a hospital with a chest pain will get kicked out. I come from Bangladesh and no matter how bad health care is there, poor people still has access to government hospitals. Rampant capitalism is not the solution to everything: wall street proved that. Insurance companies are making profit at the expense of 50 million american's health and lives, thats just a shameful reflection of our own selfish identity. Mackey.... More
Melissa
08/17/2009 10:21 AM
While I don't agree with all of John Mackey's opinions, you can't overlook one thing in his article. Whole Foods covers all their employees who work 30 hours or more a week. That is an applaudable thing. Perhaps his opinions are coming from both the business side and the fact that they have found a way to cover 89% of their emplyees? Since they are providing coverage, I'm still going to shop there. Let's face it, they are still treating their employees better than most large.... More
Paula
08/17/2009 03:50 AM
Nobody's stopping Mackey from having an opinion or expressing it; this is a free country. By the same token, I am free to shop wherever I choose. If Whole Foods is taking my money and spending it on a political campaign to defeat universal health care for sick Americans, I am free to not give them my money anymore. Goodbye, Whole Foods. I am perfectly happy to shop at my local food coop instead.
Anonymous
08/17/2009 01:53 AM
He's saying that Whole Foods in some ways CREATED an army of "enlightened" shoppers who are now mad about the fact that the CEO of that company is now going against the core values the company was built upon. Hence "conundrum" -- you should look up the word in the dictionary.
logicprobe
08/18/2009 00:17 AM
What if the people employed by Whole Foods really like the type of health care benefits the company provides? How does that fit into the core values that you assert Mackey is somehow "going against".
Anonymous
08/17/2009 01:41 AM
Did you say anything? Who are you for? Or against? Or does it matter to you now that you've wasted 4 minutes of my good time? Here's a suggestion for your next post: Try a point.
somedude
08/17/2009 01:38 AM
I don't get it. The Mackey article makes a lot of sense. Those sane arguments are what is causing people to want to boycott? I should hurt the employees at Whole Foods for that?
By the way, much our healthcare spending is controlled by the government, and our system is not "fully privatized" as this post states.
Anonymous
08/17/2009 01:34 AM
The problem is that there aren't many Whole Foods-like stores out there to go to. Trader Joes? not quite even though I go there partly. If you're lucky, your corner privately-owned health food stores maybe? I still value my health with the healthiest foods I can get, even though I don't buy too much but just the essential organics. Revert to the conventional genetically-modified supermarkets? Of course not.
I think for me was how he started the opinion piece with Thatcher's quote and.... More
indi
08/17/2009 01:25 AM
So why the liberals are against Mackey, just because he has a solution that is different from the Obama's? Please, talk about the solutions and everyone should try to contribute. Mackey offers a solution that is very very appealing to me. Boycotting Whole Food is childish and serves no purpose. And it shows how narrow minded the left is. There is a lot of waste and unjust in the current system. We should get rid of them first. Introducing another entitlement is not going to solve the problems..... More
Anonymous
08/17/2009 01:22 AM
The word is spelled "vain," not "vane."
Melissa
08/17/2009 10:18 AM
I noticed that, too. Does this site employ any copy editors? Having incorrect grammar, spelling, or punctuation detracts from your argument.
Anonymous
08/17/2009 01:02 AM
I read Mr. Mackey's article, and really have to say it makes sense to me. This is a man whose company provides some of the best working conditions and benefits in the world for unskilled workers. So it is experience on his part, not just personal opinion. For most of the rest of us it is only opinion, unless we have studied the economics of the matter. I don't normally shop at Whole Foods (vs. local grocery) because it costs me more time, $$, and gasoline to get there, but I think I will make.... More
Anonymous
08/17/2009 00:47 AM
Everything I do and say is done with the full knowledge that I represent the company. My opinions are not intended for the public. Anything that I say in public is expected to be representative of the business and in the best interest of the business. Prudence is very important to maintaining relationships. Everyday we must make decisions and choices. Sometimes those are choices that are possibly not in line with our own personal opinions, however as the CEO you represent the business. .... More
Bob Skinner
08/17/2009 00:46 AM
The ugly truth about those on the far left, mindless drones who think all should be in lock step with their leaders.
BenjaminFranklin
08/17/2009 00:41 AM
Boycott Whole Foods! I know I'm going to, and I consider asking other to do the same to be my legitimate right to free speech. Stop enriching those who use your money to defeat the kind of enlightened health care system which has by no means led to communism nor ended capitalism in Western Europe. There are still plenty of mega yachts, mansions, and chauffeur driven cars in Europe despite compassionate and equitable health care systems.
Losing Faith
08/17/2009 00:25 AM
It is shocking to me that we no longer allow others to have opinions that differ from ours. We should be allowed to have opinions different than theirs, but the converse it not true. The result is crazy ideas like boycotting a business because the CEO dared to voice his opinion on an issue that will impact us all.
I love the idea of having health insurance coverage for everyone. It is an admirable goal with only one small issue, human nature. I keep looking for a model that works. Please.... More
Anonymous
08/17/2009 02:59 AM
"The government doesn't do much well or efficiently."
You are so right! Because you drive on dirt freeways, libraries only let you check out pornography, the fire department puts out fires with squirt guns, the police laugh in the face of a crime underway, lifeguards let people drown and work on their sun tan instead, the U.S. Postal Service carrier throws your mail in the garbage the minute he leaves the post office, public school teachers deal drugs from the front of the class...I know, the.... More
Anonymous
08/17/2009 02:48 AM
"Please don't tell me about European or Canadian models. They are not working."
Where in Europe and Canada do you live? I'm assuming you have a great deal of firsthand experience with those systems. Me too! Always saw a doctor in Holland right away. It was always covered 100%. My aunt passed away of stomach cancer two months ago. She had two surgeries to prolong her life by just a few weeks that would certainly have been rejected by every insurance company here, because they were.... More
Anonymous
08/17/2009 13:54 PM
Taxation on the Dutch: "34.15% for the first €17,046, out of which the greatest percentage (31.70%) is held by social security contributions; then they increase at 41.45% in the case of the following €13,585, out of which, once again, social security holds the same percentage; then at 42% for the following €21,597, where social security contributions are no longer registered, tax is the single issue here; and finally, for whatever exceeds the last threshold, the belasting percentage.... More
Amy Rowan
08/17/2009 01:01 AM
Regarding Losing Faith's comment, I certainly respect the right Whole Food's CEO has to his opinion. Mr. Mackey can sing from the rafters whatever he so believes regarding the health care debate. I, however, have the right not to shop at his stores. Period. I put my money where my mouth is. I don't agree with his position so I will instead spend my hard earned money somewhere that can positively affect a community in a way that I think is best for said community. This does not imply.... More
logicprobe
08/17/2009 00:23 AM
Mackey's op-ed piece offered a legitimate alternative and a real-world example of it working. What we have today is not insurance; it is more like a pre-paid medical plan. I wish my company offered medical insurance like that of Whole Foods instead of the expensive PPO/co-pay mess that is so popular with government regulators nowadays.
I was self-employed for several years and necessarily had to provide my own medical insurance. I wanted insurance against large unexpected expenses, i.e. a.... More
Ted
08/17/2009 01:28 AM
"I ended up paying for way more insurance than I needed, wanted, or used." This statement applies to the younger half of employees at just about every business that has an insurance plan. It's the very attribute that makes it "insurance". The fact is, even if you were able to purchase your catastrophic coverage plan you'd still be paying a huge surcharge to help offset uninsured people who visit the E.R. with a migraine. And just because you look back and say you didn't need the extra.... More
logicprobe
08/18/2009 00:09 AM
"the fact is you are lucky you weren't the one with the migraine and no place to go."
Let's do a thought experiment. Assume I have catastrophic insurance like I've described, a high deductible policy - say $5000 per year. Okay, now I've got a migraine; what's stopping me from going to my doctor? How is it that I have no place to go? I don't understand your comment.
If I haven't met my deductible yet, I'll pay the doctor out of my own pocket and the amount goes toward my.... More
logicprobe
08/17/2009 23:42 PM
Actually, younger people (who tend to need less medical care) pay less for insurance. That's why insurance companies have lots of actuaries on staff, to manage risk.
And shouldn't it be *my* choice what coverage I get? Why should I be forced by the government to purchase more coverage than I want? I understand the consequences, and I'm willing to take the risk. A catastrophic policy would have capped my out-of-pocket expense at a level I was comfortable with. Why is that a problem for.... More
Amy Rowan
08/17/2009 01:12 AM
...but Mr. Mackey's behavior during the proposed Whole Foods purchase of Wild Oats was childish, imprudent, mean spirited, and rather bizarre for an established CEO and supposedly respected businessman. By leaving profanity laden comments on various blogs using a host of made up names all in an attempt to bash Wild Oats leadership and terrorize their board of directors was infantile at best and intentionally malicious at worst. He made his intentions to squash his competition quite clear in.... More
BenjaminFranklin
08/17/2009 00:51 AM
People hate him because, though he is rich and has no need to scramble to make ends meet, he has no compassion for the suffering of those who don't share his privileged lifestyle, and those who are stricken by illness on top of their financial misfortunes. We loved and continue to love John F. Kennedy because he understood that to those to whom much is given, much is to be expected.
Anonymous
08/17/2009 01:21 AM
JFK was a supply sider before Reagan! JFK lowered taxes to spur economic growth. Does that make you leftists cringe to hear that your heros don't always follow ideology? It's important to know that people are not caricatures of the right or the left. Mackey and Kennedy can and should follow ideas that think will work despite not being in line with mainstream progressive thought.
Anonymous
08/17/2009 00:06 AM
Good health for all is much more closely aligned to the nature of our American democracy than the concept that corporations might be granted more rights than individuals. We are not here to serve the corporations, and their profit margins, no matter how allegedly "green".
It is unfortunate that John Mackey has used his position as CEO to speak against the public option for healthcare rather than to responsibly serve the interests of the many employees and customers of Whole Foods. Let him.... More
